Transforming Health with Gio and Jodi from the Mindful Muscle Podcast Ep. 177

Jodi and Gio from the Mindful Muscle Podcast share their personal transformation journeys and the impact it had on their lives. Jodi's health scare and desire to avoid medication led her to prioritize her health and make lasting changes. Gio's struggle with weight gain and fertility issues motivated him to take control of his health. Both Jodi and Gio emphasize the importance of mindset and mental health in the transformation process. They started the Mindful Muscle Podcast to inspire and support beginners on their fitness journey, while also addressing the struggles and normalizing imperfections. In this conversation, the hosts discuss various topics related to health and fitness, including mindset, weight loss, and the challenges faced by women and moms. They emphasize the importance of having a strong why and prioritizing self-care. They also touch on the misconceptions about losing body fat and gaining muscle, such as the obsession with the scale and the need for quick fixes. The hosts share their favorite episodes of their podcast and provide information on where to find them.

Takeaways

• Transformation journeys often start with a significant event or realization that motivates individuals to prioritize their health.
• Mindset and mental health play a crucial role in the transformation process.
• The Mindful Muscle Podcast focuses on supporting and inspiring beginners on their fitness journey while addressing the struggles and normalizing imperfections.
• Health and wellness are holistic, encompassing physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Having a strong why is crucial for embarking on a health and fitness journey.
• The scale is not the only measure of progress; focus on other indicators like measurements and how you feel.
• Quick fixes and medications may offer temporary results, but long-term success requires healthy habits and lifestyle changes.
• Prioritizing self-care is not selfish; it sets a positive example for children and improves overall well-being.
• Finding time for exercise and healthy habits requires making it a priority and valuing its long-term benefits.

CONNECT WITH GIO AND JODI

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Chapters

• 0:10 Transforming Health Through Personal Stories
• 12:29 Weight Loss and Mental Transformation
• 18:06 Empowering Wellness
• 29:26 Overcoming Health and Wellness Obstacles

Transcript

Speaker 2: 0:10

Welcome to Ella Go. My name is Lisa. Join me on the journey in having real raw and uncomfortable discussions about fitness, health and everything in between, because, let's be honest, this journey would suck if we don't get our shit together. Okay, welcome back to the Elegoo podcast. Today's guests are Gio and Jodi from the Mindful Muscle podcast. Welcome, guys.

Speaker 3: 0:50

Thank you.

Speaker 2: 0:51

So I'm gonna talk a little bit about your not only your podcast you both have a podcast well together but you also had a transformation. Both of you had a transformation, both of you. And can you you know whoever wants to start first, jodi or Gio? Gio, if you're a gentleman you'd say Jodi Talk a little bit about your transformation. Just give us a little glimpse into that.

Speaker 3: 1:19

Sure, seven years ago, I was weighing over 230 pounds and at age 35, I was diagnosed with hypertension after experiencing heart palpitations, and it scared me to no end to have to change my life, because I have two small boys and I grew up with a parent that was constantly in and out of the hospital, who had a massive list of prescriptions that he was put on, and I did not want to go down that route. Medication has its place, but I didn't want to keep adding on to health issues by continuing to neglect my health.

Speaker 2: 2:01

So, jodi, did you like prior to that? Did you have, like you know? Have you tried? You know, dieting, did you do all of that?

Speaker 3: 2:12

Absolutely. In fact, my first taste of diet culture was elementary school because my mom was a Weight Watchers leader and she would give me plain rice cakes and back in the 80s those were disgusting tasting They've gotten better and honey and diet soda and yeah, it was about taking up less space back then, not being healthy.

Speaker 2: 2:39

Wow Okay. So when you had that health scare, like how soon, were you like, okay, I'm going to do this.

Speaker 3: 2:46

Pretty much immediately. At the time I befriended some local moms in my area and we were trying to lose weight, but I wasn't really taking it serious. It just seemed like the social norm to constantly have to feel like you have to lose weight but fortunately, have to lose weight. So, but fortunately, it happened right after that accountability group started. So I leaned into them. I believe it or not, after what I just said to you about my first diet culture experience, I joined Weight Watchers because two of them were following that program. So it was just like, okay, I had somebody to ask questions to.

Speaker 2: 3:24

You know it's so we laugh about it now. But I mean, I don't know if you remember, um, the great food diet, uh, I mean, and this is things that we were exposed to at such a young age slim fast. I remember, like having those shakes at 12. Like, why was I? What was my mother thinking? Like that's not okay. So, but it's such a different, you know, culture now with you know, versus then, when no one really like said what was the big deal? You want to lose weight? Okay, but it's a whole different culture now. Okay. So, gio, share us, share your story.

Speaker 1: 4:03

Yes, I was relatively in shape all my life till 42. But then my wife and I had trouble conceiving and while she began eating a fourth meal, unfortunately, I started joining her. So from the ages of 42 to 47, I ballooned to my heaviest. I never crossed 200 pounds, but I got to 199.5, and that scared me. But I was 35% body fat. So so it was skinny fat.

Speaker 1: 4:30

And one day I was at the pool and I saw an older man, older than myself, and he was in shape. Then I looked at my belly and I looked at him and for the first time in my life I felt pity for myself. But I snapped out of it real quick. I said, yo, I could do something about this. And I started with a diet and a lot of walking. But then I realized the weight wasn't coming off the way I wanted to. It wasn't coming off as fast as I wanted to and I didn't like how I was looking. So it wasn't until I started lifting weights that the weight that I was losing was coming out faster and I was liking the way I was looking. So choose a physique and all that. So it was me that got over that embarrassment at having let myself go.

Speaker 2: 5:15

You know, it's interesting, like both of your stories, how that if you're Jody, you had the health scare and Gio, you were like that embarrassment. There was something that got you to get to that point where you're just like, okay, I'm going to do it. And I hate to compare it to this, but food is an addiction, and to any addiction they always say you got to hit rock bottom right To sober up and all that. So it's very similar when it comes to wanting to lose weight because the mind doesn't want to do hard shit, like it doesn't want to do hard shit, you know, until you're like, no, this is about this, this has to happen. Until you're like, no, this is about this has to happen.

Speaker 2: 6:08

Like Jodi, your story of the health scare. What kills me is that there are people out there that have had a similar health scare and they're just like, oh, okay, well, maybe I'll do it. You were just like mm-mm, that's it, I'm done right. It took that to happen where others that might not be what needs to happen for them to change their mindset. What are your thoughts on that?

Speaker 3: 6:31

Yeah, I think a big part of it, like the last words my father said to me. He originally had brain cancer and then develop a blood clot and that's actually what caused him to pass away develop a blood clot and that's actually what caused him to pass away. His last words to me was I am tired of this shit and I think that's a big part of like why this scared me so much. It's like he got to a point with all his issues that he had enough before he passed and I did not want that.

Speaker 1: 7:02

You know you mentioned that enough is enough. Right, All of us at some point said enough is enough. But I wish I could capture that, because there's a lot of people hurting who don't know. I really can't explain why. I just said enough is enough, but I've never looked back. I wish I could capture that and I joke around with Jodi. If I could capture that and sell it, I'd be a trillionaire.

Speaker 2: 7:33

Forget about it, my God. Yeah, well, you know what it is. Is that I think it's? It's, it's what it's their, why it's the thing that is going to really like hurt them that they're proud of or their ego. You know, and it's different for different people. You know, like Gio, you saying that it was, you know you felt a little like embarrassed, like, oh my God, look at me, this guy's in better shape than and that was what got to you. You know, and I think that everybody has a different makeup. Everyone has the. You know, the camel that breaks the, what is it? The straw that breaks the camel's back? Everyone has a different straw.

Speaker 1: 8:09

Hey, you know what's funny, that if you would have asked me at that point, you know what are the tenets of good health I would have told you. But look, even though I'm 35% plus body fat, my internal numbers were good. My cholesterol has never been above 122, right so. But it's almost like you're blinded to your own foolishness and something had to snap me out of it, which was the incident at the pool.

Speaker 2: 8:36

You know, Gio, let's talk a little bit about that, because I was having a. I may have been having this conversation by myself, but it was the conversation of how someone is healthy. What does healthy look like? Gio, you said you were skinny fat. People don't even realize what that is. You look thin on the outside, you look healthy, but inside you're a whole mess.

Speaker 1: 9:07

Yes, yes, inside you look healthy, but inside you're a whole mess. Yes, yes, you know, I think jody said or I forgot where I heard, like I said, maybe internal common conversation. Think jody said right, the skinny people think that skinny equals healthy. And there's so much more that goes into health. And I know, with type 2 diabetes, people that are rip city and yet they have type 2 diabetes and you would think, wow, they're a beacon of health. That's not necessarily the case. It needs to be a holistic approach.

Speaker 2: 9:32

Yeah, and I'm so glad you said that, because that's exactly what whether it was a conversation with myself what I was saying to this person that even though you know they are fit, they're ripped, they're, they got abs, you know they may not be healthy inside, especially with a lot of other things on on how they even got to that point. But let's also talk about the, the, the mental health, the mindset. I mean you might be healthy or you look like you're ripped and all that, but mentally you're a mess, right, A hot mess. And again it's talking about when someone says I'm about health and wellness, Well, that's mind and body, that's all of it. So let's transition to the podcast. But before we talk about that, how did you all meet?

Speaker 3: 10:35

Well, do you want this or do you want me to take this one? When I started, I had a lot of gym phobia. I was too embarrassed to go in the gym. So I found this app called FitBot and it actually shows you what to do. You can put in your goals, what your equipment you have available to you, and they also have a Facebook group, and I was one of the active members in that Facebook community, and so was Gio oh but how did that all like?

Speaker 2: 11:07

how did the connection happen?

Speaker 1: 11:13

So Jodi is a photographer, an awesome photographer. She posts pictures of her transformation, and others do as well, and I gravitated towards Jodi because it's kind of similar to mine. Hers is a female version, right, mine's a male version. We both lost a lot of weight, we're both very consistent with our workouts, we're in the gym almost every day, we talk about nutrition, and I know this, her and others, but her, she's balanced. It's not one extreme or the other. Long story short, we planned a retreat, several of us, about nine of us, and we met physically in Arizona about a year ago, and that's how we connected talk about the podcast, but I just had a question With the transformation.

Speaker 2: 12:08

You both had this transformation. What has that done for your life? I want to talk a little bit about that because obviously there's some hard work that goes into these transformations. But then the end goal, or the journey what has that done for you? Has it changed your life?

Speaker 3: 12:24

Yeah, 100% has changed my life. I didn't have a great relationship with myself before and I never want to give the impression that my weight had to do with it. It had to do with not taking care of myself. I wasn't a priority. I was too shy to speak my mind when I was overweight because I just wanted to fit in so bad. And when I started prioritizing my health, I started loving myself because I was treating myself like somebody I loved and I started getting to the point where I'm like you know what? This is how I feel. I'm going to say it. If you don't like it, oh well, this is who I am and I have more friends of it, because I think people gravitate to people who are them, their authentic self, where before I was too timid to be myself and I originally was a graphic designer for a financial company and I am currently looking for work, but I am a certified personal trainer and nutritionist. So that's going from art school and the artsy kid to let's go work out, you know.

Speaker 2: 13:34

That's definitely a big change.

Speaker 1: 13:38

To me what's the opposite. My mom always used to joke around that I had enough confidence for all my siblings, but when I hit the moment where I discovered all the weight that I had let myself go, it was more about being honest with myself, right To live the commitments that I put for myself that I wasn't. I've always been healthy. I've always been athletic, from 42 to 47. And I was blinded. I didn't realize. I let myself go because we were worried about the first pregnancy.

Speaker 1: 14:08

People with celiac disease have a higher rate of miscarriage second trimester as opposed to the first. And so I stopped golfing, I stopped walking, I stopped exercising, I stopped doing a lot of things, and then I was eating. And finally, when you know it, all of a sudden you're out of weight and I needed to align my values back with who I was, with my actions. And so that's what. And so now that I've done that, I realized that it has helped me. It's my I don't want to say confidence of my level of commitment in other areas of life, knowing that if I can do this, I can do anything as well.

Speaker 2: 14:46

Okay, this is pretty fascinating because you both were talking about, obviously, the body transformation, but even through the journey, you had an emotional and mental transformation. People transform their body and they still look in the mirror and see that overweight individual. They see that individual that they don't like so much. They think that, okay, I'm going to lose the weight, I'm going to be happy. Well, no, you got to work on that mindset. So it's interesting that both of you which is, I'm going to say you're outliers, because both of you had not only the body transformation, you had the mental and emotional transformation, and that doesn't often happen. So I know this is going to be a question that people are going to want me to ask you how did you both lose the weight?

Speaker 3: 15:43

For me. Originally it started with Weight Watchers, and then I transitioned to calorie counting and focusing on protein and fiber as my goals, and then weightlifting a lot. I know you are a running coach. I don't love cardio. I will run, though, because I recognize that it's really good for all of us, and I have asthma, and it's actually helped my asthma significantly because I make myself do it.

Speaker 2: 16:15

Okay, joe.

Speaker 1: 16:17

Yeah, and for me I mentioned, my internal numbers were good, so I just reduced because, look, you can gain a lot of weight eating what is quote unquote considered a healthy food, right? You overeat rice and beans and broccoli and vegetables. You're going to gain weight, it doesn't matter, it's healthy food. So calories counting. And obviously, as I mentioned, weightlifting and I don't like to run either. I do it occasionally. My favorite form of cardio, though, is a Peloton. I get it, I get on it, I love the mental aspect of it more than I do running, and that's how I lost the weight.

Speaker 2: 16:55

Okay, okay, I'm not going to like Doug, what's hard is discipline to stay at it.

Speaker 1: 17:00

But discipline grows the more you do it and then, like Jody says, becomes an easy as brushing your teeth. It becomes a part of you, and I know Jody's been working out since she was a fetus. I have a current streak of 152 weeks of working out, six days consecutive. So it's just like brushing your teeth every day. I put on my underwear every day and I just work out. It goes hand in hand.

Speaker 2: 17:27

It's just, it's life, it's just like breathing, it's just part of who you are in your life. So it's just, it's life, it's just like breathing, it's just part of who you are in your life. So it's not just and I think again, that is because you both had a uh, emotional mental change, transformation. You wouldn't have been saying the things you're saying right now if it wasn't for that as well. Uh, okay, let's talk about the podcast. All right, how did that all happen? You met and then what did you say? Let's do a podcast together.

Speaker 1: 17:57

I've been doing a podcast for FitBot. It's a long story short, but the two other people and I connected and we ended up launching the official FitBot podcast. But after that, you know, even famous bands break up. People want to do their own thing, and I decided I wanted to align with someone who's similar to me, and so I approached Jodi and we were just presenting something together in the F5 Challenge group, which actually sponsors our podcast, and so we did a presentation with me from the male side, her from the female side, and that led to the podcast. And that's how I see it, jodi.

Speaker 2: 18:34

Jodi, you see it any different?

Speaker 3: 18:38

Yeah, I think too. I think when Gio was representing Fitbod, it was a big corporation so he couldn't freely pick the topics, like you can when you're doing your own thing without somebody holding you back. Not that we like say anything crazy or offensive, but it's great to just be able. Hey, I feel like doing this topic, what do you think, and we roll with it. We don't have to worry about sounding corporate and happy.

Speaker 2: 19:06

Okay, so what is the mission of the? What's the purpose of the podcast? It's called the Mindful Muscle Podcast. I could just imagine what this is all about.

Speaker 3: 19:18

We focus on the beginner, because Gio and I are very much, very familiar with that phase in the journey of life and we want to show people that it's doable, but also that your mindset and your mental health matters. You can't hate yourself into health. It doesn't work that way. You cannot neglect your mental health while aiming to be fit. It doesn't work like that. And we want to show people that it's not about being perfect Nobody's perfect. Want to show people that it's not about being perfect Nobody's perfect.

Speaker 3: 19:52

Perfection is the enemy of good enough, and that everybody stumbles on this journey. I think my biggest issue starting out is I was expecting to be 100% perfect and when I would stumble, I would let that stumble become a roadblock. And no, it's completely normal and we need to normalize the struggles and be honest with it, because if we fake it and make it seem like it's peachy keen the entire time, the beginner tries, they stumble and they go well, there's obviously something wrong with me, so I quit. So I'm looking out for the person that was the old me, the person looking for hope and information to get started and not give up.

Speaker 1: 20:35

Yep, we cater to. You know the advanced as well, but our heart is with the beginner, because I know I basically did a lot of research on my own and I obviously discovered the Fitbox group and that was a lot of motivation and asking questions. But at the beginning part of it it was just me by myself searching on the internet. So we just want to help the average person. Another thing is I don't want to say Jody's age. She's free to do that herself, but I'm 51 years old and they told you that it can be done. If I can do it, nothing special. If I can do it at 51, those younger than me can actually do it as well.

Speaker 3: 21:11

I'm 42.

Speaker 2: 21:13

She's a baby. Yeah, she's a baby. Okay, you know, I love that you guys, although you're, you know, you're both obviously you're talking from the male perspective and Jodi from the female, but you're both different ages and you know that is why I did I don't know if you saw recently I did a reel where I was like showing my body. I was like, yep, this is it. You know, because menopause that's going to hit you and that your body completely changes and the way you work out and the way you eat, you know it'll slap you in the face. You're like, wait a minute, I've not been overeating, I've been working out what the hell's going on, you know, and just going with that transition and being okay with that.

Speaker 2: 21:59

And I think a lot of that again, like you both are talking about, is that mindset and being able to say you know, hey, this is part of the journey, and I love that. You said that, jodi, that you know, if you don't, you're not honest in your own journey. You know, hey, this is part of the journey and I love that. You said that, jodi, that you know, if you don't, you're not honest in your own journey. You know, and it's just like kids like.

Speaker 2: 22:15

That's why they always say show your kids when you're you're not yourself. Show them when you're unhappy, when you're upset, because you cannot be. You know, for me, super mom, super woman, all the time the cape is on, but superwoman stumbles and I want my daughter to see it. You know, I want her to see that because when she stumbles she's going to be like okay, look, it's okay, cause mom did it. You know, um, but if you're only showing that perfect, you know self, your perfect journey, like you just said, jodi, they're going to say wow, why can't this happen for you? What the hell did I do wrong? What's going on? So I love that you both share that, Okay. So the podcast.

Speaker 1: 22:54

Well, let me share something about Jodi's post last night, which is so true because of, for me, the way I handle it is. I look at my weekly average for my weight. Jodi went out last night. I shared her reel on my story. You know she went out last night, came home and weighed four and a half pounds more. Well, that's not because she gained all that fat overnight. She probably had water retention. But if you let it get to your head, I can never go out. I love what she said. I'm not going to make relationships, friendships just because I'm freaking out about some gain.

Speaker 2: 23:31

Yeah, no, I, yes, I read that and I was like, exactly Like what are you going to do? Not live your life? You still got to live your life and be a human being and I think you know, think about it. You're going to be like be scared to thrive when you're 60 because you're going to gain weight. Come on, you know, okay. So, going back to not only with your experiences interviewing people on the podcast, but even your own experience and, jodi, you being a personal trainer and a nutritionist, what do you find people don't understand the most when it comes to losing body fat and gaining muscle? And you know there's so much information out there, but it's that one thing that you're just like how do you not get this? Like what is that one thing? If you both have, you know, your own opinion on that? I'm going to say Jodi, go first. I'm going to say the scale your own opinion on that.

Speaker 3: 24:31

I'm going to say Jodi, go first. I'm going to say the scale. Looking at it, everybody thinks if it goes up, that you're screwing something up. And it's not normalized how fluctuations work and you could be eating 100% perfect for a week and it might not go in the direction you want it to go and that's normal. And like I've heard women say, oh, I haven't lost any weight, but, and I'm like, okay, how about your measurements? Oh, I'm down an inch in my thigh and I'm down here. I'm like, bruh, it's like you are kicking ass, but you're not seeing that because you're too focused on the value of the scale that you give it. That value, I mean yikes.

Speaker 2: 25:21

Yeah, so Jodi as a Weight Watchers alumni to another Weight Watchers alumni. It was always the scale. You know and, and you were, and people would be like what happened. I've been following the points and all that and you know you were focused on that damn number on the scale. Yeah, I got to agree with you on that one, jodi Gio.

Speaker 1: 25:44

For the record, I'm also a CPT and a nutrition coach, and you know so many people get so fixed in the micronutrients and counting that they can't enjoy an occasional donut or an occasional ice cream. I, for myself, eat anywhere between 400 to 1200 calories of ice cream every Saturday, and sometimes people feel that if they're not 100% then they fall off the rails. No, be you know, show yourself some grace, have a donut every once in a while. It's not what you do one time, it's what you do in the big picture, and if your big picture is healthy, like myself and Jodi and yourself, then it's okay to indulge every once in a while.

Speaker 2: 26:25

Yeah, we, you know it's crazy because even with weight rot, weight watchers like they weren't focused on the meal, the healthy meal, it was about the points. So people are eating like the boxed Weight Watchers, like how much sodium is in that, right, the boxed Weight Watchers, morning, noon and night, and they were like I don't know why I'm not losing weight. So hello, sodium here. I mean it was not the most healthiest way to eat, or, oh, I ate a piece of pizza. There goes my points Then.

Speaker 2: 27:00

I'm going to starve myself for the rest of the day. It was such a crazy time. Oh, weight Watchers, you crazy. I don't know how it is right now, but anyways, let's go back to the episodes with your podcast. Um, I wanted to ask you what has been your favorite episode, or the one that was just so enlightening that you were just like wow.

Speaker 1: 27:29

Well, for me, I obviously the reason I enjoyed your episode is a theme. It runs through what your episode was about. It's when the guest comes in, that's genuine relaxed, where they look. It's just a living room conversation, because sometimes I remember one guest trying to say that it was all about being scripted, that she didn't want it to be scripted, and I just love this laid back feel, jodi.

Speaker 3: 27:54

I love. I think my favorite episode besides yours I really did appreciate. Like one of the questions I asked you was about like what seems to be a barrier with women, and you mentioned that a lot of women don't think that they're good enough or worth the effort to do something for themselves, and I think that's unfortunately true. But I would also say probably my next favorite would be Shelby. She was homeless, in her car, living in her car for a year, yeah, and that actually led for her to prioritize her physical health and her nutrition because she was living in a small car for a year. And just in case you know, something happens, you need to be able to move quickly and it's crazy how people yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 28:52

And sorry, Jodi, not that something you were mentioning, but that's the attitude, and that's the attitude I love about Jodi is that we're going to make the best of it no matter what, and that's what we want to instill in people, regardless of the age. You can do this. Just put your mind to it and you can be the healthiest person you can be.

Speaker 2: 29:13

Yeah, yeah. So, jodi, this is more towards you, because even though you know what you just said, joe, it's like just do it, and you know you, you can do it. But especially for women and moms, it's like they get paralyzed. They know what they want. Then they got the information they. They can look it up on the internet. You got pinterest, you got. I like I said just I think I said it on a post you got everything that's free to you, you know. But they almost feel paralyzed to make that first step, um to to going on to that journey. Like, did you experience any of that? I know that you said that you had that health scare, but even before the health scare, did you always say, yeah, I wanna lose weight? But then it's like, oh yeah, that one thing I wanted to do, I forgot about it. You know? Like how was that for?

Speaker 3: 30:11

you. I think the biggest issue is the mom guilt taking time to do something for yourself, but it's not a flex to neglect your health. And okay, they watch what we do. I mean, right before I got onto this call, my son was like mom, look at my bicep. Well, why do you think he does that? Because he sees his mom do that. If I want them to take care of their health, they better see me doing it too. They're not going to do what I say, they're going to do what I do.

Speaker 2: 30:51

Yeah, you know, yeah, Like you know, yeah, the mom guilt. But if you do what you need to do, you actually are showing them how to be a better individual. And I don't know about you, Jodi, but I felt like me getting into running and all that made me a better mom, Absolutely right. Like, do you not realize that, ladies, you feel like you're so empowered, you, you know, you're not as stressed out and you're in such a better mood that you are just like? I mean, I always tell the story.

Speaker 2: 31:28

You know my daughter, you know, and I'm a single mom and I remember one time I was in a bad mood and she's like Mom, did you run today? And I'm like, no, I didn't. And I'm like, oh my God, my daughter knows, oh my God. So, yes, you're absolutely right, the mom, the mom guilt, is the thing that that stops a lot of women from going into that journey. Gio, what are other obstacles that you find? I mean, I know we talked about the mom guilt, but besides the mom guilt, what have you experienced has been the obstacles for other people?

Speaker 1: 32:06

It's been the notion that people say they don't have time, you know, and Jodi is for people telling her all the time oh, you're lucky, you get to work out. Well, jodi wakes up at three in the morning sometimes to get the workout in. And so, look, if you really buy into the health, then it is something you're going to do and you're not going to let anybody stop you. And so I admire people like Jody, I admire people like yourself, I admire people who finally say enough is enough.

Speaker 1: 32:30

My, my health is important, and if I have to wake up at five, six or whenever, I'm going to get it done and for me, you know it's easy because it's the first door I see when I open my bedroom, it's my gym door. And so people have to prioritize when they're going to work out, set a time, stay on it and do it. My wife works out three days a week. She's busy, she's a doctor, but she reminds herself that it's important not only for her, and I hate missing deadlines. Sometimes, if I don't go to work out, you know I hate it, I get antsy. But sometimes I've done a workout to keep my streak at 11 PM at night because it's priority number one, and I want to be independent at 99 years old.

Speaker 2: 33:17

Yeah, yeah, absolutely, you know. I think that it's the value because, like Jodi, I'm up at four, okay, and even prior, and I start work early. But even prior to that, if I wanted to do my workout and again, you know, being a single mother, I had to wake up extra early before she woke up and unfortunately, my daughter was the kid that did not sleep in. She woke up early. So I'm like, damn it, she's up at, nobody has a problem waking up to get concert tickets or, you know, working at certain things. So it's that value and I think, like for Gio you know, gio, you say it at 90, like that is huge, like me going to see in a nursing home. I don't want to be that, that's not what I want to be. So that is valuable to me and that's why the why, the why is so important. On why is it that you're doing this? And it's got to hit the heartstrings, it's got to make you a little teary-eyed, it's got to hurt, like, why am I doing this? And I said this in your show. I'm doing this because I'm an older mom and I want to be around for my daughter. I get a little teary-eyed when I say that. So the why is so important to get you on the journey.

Speaker 2: 34:52

With that being said, what are your thoughts? Because there's that? Why, right? With that being said, what are your thoughts? Because there's that? Why, right? What are your thoughts with these get quick, lose weight quick medications that are all out there where it's like a boom, I lose the weight and bam Like. What are your thoughts on that? Because, again, you don't really need a why. You're just taking the medication, the hard work I mean. I'm seeing the transformation like it's on fire. What are your thoughts, jodi and Gio?

Speaker 3: 35:26

I think the problem is a lot of these medications are being offered by non-medical professionals, like you're seeing them advertised. I've seen them advertised on Weight Watchers and spas and it's like you should be doing it with the guidance of a doctor and you still need to address healthy habits If you need to take the medication to help you get to a point where your health is extended. I understand there is no cheat code for that, but you still have to eat healthier, you still need to get movement. So I think it's essential, if you're doing it, do it under the care of a doctor, but still work with a nutritionist or a certified personal trainer to modify those habits to keep it lasting, because we don't know what's going to be the what's the after effect Like if you stop taking it, what happens?

Speaker 1: 36:23

Do you revert?

Speaker 3: 36:24

back, or we need to make sure we're not just relying on medication alone.

Speaker 2: 36:30

Yeah, yeah. And there's no side effects to the waking up early and running or lifting. There's no side effects of that. All right, you guys, this has been really great. I love talking to you. Where can we find your podcast and where can we find both of you? Sure.

Speaker 3: 36:50

We are on YouTube Mindful Muscle Podcast. We are also available on Apple, spotify or your favorite podcast provider. We also post a lot on Instagram, which is mindful underscore muscle underscore podcast. My individual social media is Livia Chaos L-I-V-I-A-K-A-O-S, and I post a lot about my transformation, inspirational quotes and devastatingly terrible memes that are inappropriate.

Speaker 2: 37:23

Oh, I like that Okay.

Speaker 1: 37:25

You can find me at GeoMarin7 at Instagram. You could also find me at GeoMarin on X and I just, you know, take what Jodi posts and put it. But I do put my own stuff sometimes and I talk about my transformation. I like inspiring people. I don't post that often, but when I do, I try to make it substantial.

Speaker 2: 37:46

Again, thank you to both of you. Like I said, I just love we are just like hanging out and having this conversation and I could keep on talking. Um, thank you so much for being a part of this show. And again, thank you for allowing me to be on your show, and I'll actually put on the notes, not only how to get ahold of you and Jodi, the episode. I'm going to find that episode that you mentioned. That was one of your favorites. That sounds very interesting. I want to check that out, but where we can find you and I'm going to guess the same thing for the email it's the Mindful Muscle Podcast.

Speaker 3: 38:24

Mindfulmusclepodcast at gmailcom.

Speaker 2: 38:29

Perfect, okay. Well, thanks again everyone and until next time. Bye.